Year in review 2021, Bengaluru FC: An underwhelming year for the perennial achievers
For a team which boasts of bagging at least one title a year, the year 2021 not only tarnished the reputation to some extent, but also made them toil hard for maintaining itself in the mid-table bracket. Interim manager Naushad Moosa handed over the reins to Marco Pezzaiuoli prior to the 2021 AFC Cup campaign, to shape the team for the Hero Indian Super League (ISL).
For a team which boasts of bagging at least one title a year, the year 2021 not only tarnished the reputation to some extent, but also made them toil hard for maintaining itself in the mid-table bracket. Interim manager Naushad Moosa handed over the reins to Marco Pezzaiuoli prior to the 2021 AFC Cup campaign, to shape the team for the Hero Indian Super League (ISL).
Even though the incoming manager had ample time to work on the team in the build-up to the new season of the Hero ISL, the unit is yet to gel properly and their game has lacked finesse in the build-up, as well as in the final third and the defense, which reflects in the results they have registered.
Bengaluru FC’s 2021 in numbers: Pl: 26, W: 7, D: 8, L: 11, Win%: 26.92%
The trump card entry to the Asian club competition was not marked by a change of fortunes, as they were ousted in the group stages itself. In the Hero ISL 2021-22, they have won just two of the nine matches played, which sums up the year for them.
The High:
Apart from a few patches where Bengaluru FC have shown sparks of their lost glory, it has been a disappointing year for the Blues. Losing just one match in the 2021 AFC Cup is a positive they can take away.
The Low:
The lack of consistency in their game, which has cost them dearly in the domestic as well as continental tournaments. Seasoned campaigners like Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh have run hot and cold, while the youngsters were not remarkable either.
Best Player:
Cleiton Silva: There’s no other player even close to the Brazilian in terms of the contribution towards Bengaluru FC in the past year. Having already been involved in 11 goals in the previous season, Silva started off with the same intensity this time around. In the nine matches played this season, the forward has scored five and assisted on three occasions.
What to expect:
A top-four finish looks distant at the present moment, but, for starters, Marco Pezzaiuoli would be aiming to script a few wins along the way. A couple of immediate wins will determine whether the Blues can be backin in the race for a semi-final spot towards the business end of the league.
